Huntsville gazette., 1887-10-29
Why the COlOred Militia and
Civic Societies Did not March
in the Presidential Nashville
Procession.

Bro. Robinson. Of the Nashville
Star has been charged with making
himself the tail end OF the Cleveland
procession in Nashville recently, with
an eve single to future crumbs from
the Presidential table, and to smooth
the way to marching himself and The
Star under the Cleveland banner
when the latter is renominated by the
Democrats. He rises to explain the
procession business as follows in his
last paper.
"The seventh division of the Press
idential procession Of last Monday
was to be composed of the colored
soldiers, colored organized citizens
and colored civic orders, A colo:ed
man was appointed commander ol
the division, and c. ,lored committee
Of five was appointed to organize the
colored people. The committee &C.
cepted the task, and the chairman
went to work. Invitations were sent
out to the various orders, several Of
which accepted and notified the chair.
man. Next the staff was appointed,
consisting Of some Of the most prom
inent colored men in the city and
county. The colored troops were tc
report to the commander of the sew
enth division for orders. Things were
getting in shape for pretty good
show for Ham Saturday night the
staff met in consultation with the
chief and the question was raised to
this effect: Shall we turn out on Mon.
day? Why not? One went Oh to say,
first, no provision is made for the col
ored press of the city, in the next
place the colored soldiery are cut of
from the whites, with the artillery be.
tween, and in the next place no place
has been assigned for the colored
committeeman rs for the whites, and
lastly, the colored people are expect
ed to fetch up the tailend Of the pro.
cession Some said under the Cir
cumstaEcss they could not partici
pate. A few, however, said we will
go through with it. as we have gone
so far. In the mean time the Langs
ton Rifles said they would MT take
position in the procession in the rear
of the battery.
On Monday morning Commandant,
George T. Robinson, with his Ad.
iutant General, G NJ. Wade, and Z
courier, Henry Harding, Jr., was, al
his headquarters on Broad street.
Pretty soon the Langston Rifles
Captain W. l.: Irvine commanding
and the Nashville Guards, Captain
N. Sanders commanding, reported
for orders Each company demanded
the same courtesies az the white sol,
diers received. A courier was dis.
patched to chief marshal of the day
Gen. W. II. jackson. to notify him
that She colored troops would moi
march in the procession except in
their proper places, with the white
soldiers. This courtesy was nof ex-
tended. The colored troops remained
in line until ihe President passed,
when they returned to their ar
mories.
There went up shout Of applause
from the colored people as the boys
"fell out" Their action meets with
general approval,
Meanwhile news was received at
headquarters that none Of the orders
would turn out. This new turn OF
affairs chilled the commander and
staff. Aftera brief consultation the
staff agreed to march. So headed by
that splendid Bowling Green band,
followed by the famous !. o. |. band,
the staff fell in and marched. The
staff felt that they were simply hon.
oring the office and not the man, and
so went along to represent Ham, just